Network Element PLMN Selection for Shared Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In shared network environments, user equipment (UE) experiences delays during Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) due to the inability to determine whether it supports network sharing, leading to inappropriate PLMN selection and prolonged call setup times.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine the capability of user equipment (UE) to support network sharing, allowing for the selection of an appropriate public land mobile network identity (PLMN-id) based on its capabilities, thereby optimizing PLMN selection and reducing CSFB time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE performs CSFB in a shared network environment without determining network sharing capability, then the network can provide circuit switched services, but the PLMN selection becomes incorrect and call setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network determines the UE's network sharing capability support in advance during the attach procedure or before PLMN selection, rather than waiting until CSFB is needed. This preliminary determination allows the network to have the capability information ready when CSFB is triggered, enabling immediate correct PLMN selection without delaying the fallback procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The network uses feedback mechanisms to determine whether the UE supports network sharing information broadcast. This feedback is obtained during initial network procedures, and the resulting capability information is stored and used for subsequent CSFB operations, ensuring accurate PLMN selection based on actual UE capabilities.
2Productivity
If the network broadcasts network sharing information, then supporting UEs can select correct PLMN, but non-supporting UEs experience delays due to inability to process the information
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides different quality of information to different UEs based on their capabilities. Supporting UEs receive and can process the network sharing information broadcast, while non-supporting UEs receive only the common PLMN information. This localized quality approach ensures each UE type gets appropriately formatted information without causing delays or errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The network broadcasts network sharing information that is more detailed than what all UEs need, but this is acceptable because supporting UEs can fully utilize this information while non-supporting UEs simply ignore the additional details and use only the common PLMN portion. The excessive information does not harm non-supporting UEs and provides full benefit to supporting UEs.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for performing a selection of a public land mobile network identity in a shared network environment, in which environment at least two public land mobile network identities are available for providing circuit switched based service to a user equipment. The method includes determining a capability of the user equipment and selecting the public land mobile network identity at least partly on the basis of the capability of the user equipment among the at least two public land mobile network identities. Information on the capability of the user equipment is maintained in a database and in a step of determining the capability of the user equipment, the database is utilized. Furthermore, the invention relates to a network element and a system for implementing at least partly the method according to the invention.